"Braided" Wreath DIY

Monday, November 30, 2020

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I've been thinking a lot recently about how this Christmas is different, and how I can use that to create something special. One of the methods I would like to try is really embracing the theme of HOME, in all of it's cozy, cuddly glory. 

There was one specific piece of decor that embedded this idea for me, and that was this gorgeous wreath from Etsy shop King and Eye Crochet. I wanted my own simpler and smaller version for inside my home. So I made this cozy little wreath out of a surprising supply that I bet you already have in your home: cotton balls!




Supplies:
Cotton Balls
Cardboard
Ribbon
White Paint
Exacto knife
Scissors
Clear Tape

 
Step one: Cut out your wreath.
On a piece of corrugated cardboard, draw a bigger outer circle and a smaller inner circle. I traced a dinner plate for my outer circle and a small bowl for my inner circle. Cut it out with an Exacto knife. In the end, the edges will be hidden, so don't stress too much about keeping your cuts smooth.




Step two: Paint your cardboard.
I knew that the cotton balls wouldn't cover the cardboard perfectly, so I gave the front of my cardboard a quick coat of white paint. I almost wish I had gone a shade darker, though, because it was hard to see the details when there was nothing to contrast with in the background. I would like to see how it looks with a beige!




Step three: Pull apart your cotton balls.
I had a little helper for this step! I thought that cotton balls were squished bits of stuffing, but it turns out they're more like a roll of fluffy cotton (at least the ones that I had were.) When I unrolled them, they were about 6 inches long, so I cut them in half so they were about 3 inches. To completely cover my wreath I used about a third of the bag.




Step four: Create your "braid."
This "braid" was created by layering the strips on top of each other at an angle, then taping down both ends. I  would lay one strip down at an angle, tape the end, then wrap it around and tape it to the back. Then I would lay another stip perpendicular to the first, covering up the tape from the first strip, and tape it down. Repeat the process until you've covered the whole wreath.

Step five: Perfect and add your ribbon.
Before I put away all of my supplies I went through and covered any tape you could see or added cotton where I thought it was looking a bit flat. Then I just wrapped the ribbon through the hole and hung it. So simple.





In the mood for something more complicated? Check out my "Hogwarts Letter" wreath!

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Thanksgiving Printable Conversation Starters

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

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We all have felt the effects of this year, and as we get closer to the holidays I don't see it getting any easier. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the holidays... we just have to think a little outside of the box. This year I'm adding conversation starters to my printable Thanksgiving kit. In the spirit of thinking outside of the box, I tried to make sure the questions I supplied in this printable were unique. Maybe even a little weird. But hopefully, they will help you learn things about your family that you never really needed to know... like what kind of food they think should be put in Jello.



This .pdf contains three different types of cards. One page is weird questions, one page has multiple cards that ask "What are you thankful for today?" and the third page has blank cards. You can use these blank cards to fill in your own questions, or they could also be used as place cards!



These conversation starters might complete the set that I've been working on for a few years. I have linked to the downloads for all three .pdfs in the kit below!


Download the Conversation Starters printable here.



You can download the Thankful Tags here.



You can download invites, place setting wreaths, and a gratitude journal here.

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Recycled Fall Puzzle

Thursday, November 19, 2020

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I enjoyed the challenge of making my last geometric puzzle so much that I just had to design another. Maybe this blog will just be all DIY puzzles all the time. Hello, Wild Puzzles.

This beautiful puzzle is fall inspired, and it's kinda tricky to put together. But it's not impossible, which is the level of difficulty I like for my puzzles. Not impossible. 




Supplies:

Cardboard

Ruler

Exacto Knife

Paint

Template (not required)



The first thing I did was measure out my puzzle. My original template was 5"x7", but I wanted it to be a bit bigger so I cut my cardboard to be 7.5"x10.5". After that, I drew a line down the center (at 3.75"), and then drew a 1.5" grid. The grid isn't necessary but it helps me line up the ruler to make drawing easier. All of this can be skipped if you decide to use the template.


After I drew all of my lines and had the look I was going for I label my pieces by the colors I wanted to paint them (DT for dark teal, etc.) and used my Exacto to cut it out.



Next step was paint! I made my browns by mixing orange, a bit of green, and a bit of red. The teals were made with blue, green, and a bit of red to tone it down. It can take a lot of mixing to get the color just right, and if that sounds daunting you can always go to a craft store and buy the exact colors you need!


Let your pieces dry and you have a puzzle!



I am kind of in love with the texture using corrugated cardboard gives these puzzles. If you prefer a sleeker look try using foam core board. 



Here is a template if you want to attempt making this puzzle on your own. Or, you can skip all of the complicated steps and just cut up the template to be your puzzle! 

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Mood Boards: Houses I Will Never Own vol. 2

Monday, November 9, 2020

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You know I'm never going to stop looking and dreaming about how I would decorate houses I'll never own. Like last time, these mood boards are full of inspiration for dream spaces that I would love to live in. But if I can't,  maybe you will be able to use the ideas for your own spaces!

Our first building is a generic lodge out in the woods. With floor to ceiling windows and wood EVERYWHERE it's easy for a space like this to look too busy. So I was thinking maybe I would dial it back a bit and go for a more minimalistic look. Masculine touches solidify the "lodge" feel while adding hints of industrial elements bring it to a more accessible level for the average family. I also just wanted an excuse to share these beautiful chandeliers. They are made out of bike chains and are stunningly equal parts masculine and elegant.

Image sources: 123, 4, 5, 67



The house that inspired this relaxed mood board is an angular house that was built in 1975. Sitting on about 5 acres with sloped ceilings and a loft at the heart of it all, this house has been on my "want" list for a very long time.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6



This last mood board is a bit more "vibey" than the rest of them, but it's also the look I feel like you could replicate in any house, even a generic dorm room. The soon to be released video game Cyberpunk 2077 has me all excited for neon lights and futuristic fashion, but when I come home I want my space to be chill. I want to be able to fall asleep on any piece of furniture, and I think this aesthetic hits the mark.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 

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